Works in parts!. Review on Animal

Finally watched the most talked about film of current month, the blockbuster ANIMAL.The film has placed "Superstar" Ranbir Kapoors film career right on top at Bollywood after few not so great years. The film inspite of being huge success has got extreme reactions and ignited debates from critics and film buffs alike due to exaggerated depiction.I will try to pen down my honest unbiased though lengthy opinion on this violent film by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. The film is about an extremely aggressive young guy Ran Vijay Singh( Ranbir Kapoor) who is overtly possessive about his extremely rich and busy father(Anil Kapoor).Ranvijay gets into one trouble after other and his relationships with wife, sisters and everyone is always on extremes.

When the father is attacked, the son becomes literally an "ANIMAL" to revenge.

The topic of father and son relationship and issues has been integral to Hindi cinema from the time of Mughal E Azam.The genre reached peak with Amitabh bachchan and Salim Javed combination films most noticeably Trishul and Shakti.However, Animal doesn't have any of that as core issue.Its the story of a neglected son by his super busy father and has overtones to Bobby(where son was Ranbeers great dad Rishi) and Sharaabi(Amitabh and Pran). The film has shades of Copolas classic Godfather and it's Desi remake Dharmatma as well.Ranbirs character has madness like SRK(Darr, Anjaam), trouble maker hero Salmans(Tere Naam) and Vanga adds his Kabir Singh male toxicity in full thrust here.There are also shades of Ranbirs earlier big hits like Raajneeti and Rockstar, yet overall the character is totally different from all these. Of the performances I found Anil Kapoors character and performance both very weak.Inspite of long length of role, he somehow didn't get enough lines to emote well and whatever he did was average.The golden old time baddies Prem Chopra and Shakti Kapoor have small but effective positive roles.Suresh Oberoi, after Vangas' Kabir Singh is again good here.Bobby Deol as the violent villain surprisingly gets very less screen time and it's more of a glorified cameo.Though the role's duration disappoints, yet Bobby Deol doesn't and has got a resurrection of sorts.Tripti Domra has more skin show than dialogues, which added to her popularity.The female lead Rashmika disappoints a lot and her performance is not at all effective.

Sandeep Vangas pack a punch in the emotional scenes, but also shows over male toxity with too much uneccesary emphasis on "Alpha" male.Some sequences seems forced in for the heck of making the film disturbing and bold. They could have easily been edited out reducing the longgg length of film.The screenplay also has many lose ends.The first half is gripping but in second half pace drops at several places.The action is brutal, very well shot but the violence is on extreme.The music and songs are great and the track "Arjun Vailly" is excellent and it's reference to Sikh History battle makes it haunting! The background score is killer!

The film belongs to one person -Ranbirrrrr and the Kapoor Khandaan's son nails it.Though post "SANJU" his mannerisms here reminds one of Sanjay Dutt of 1990s-Yalgaar, Khalnayak and Vaastav lot, yet he shows his own class.From a school student till an old man, he is great in all shades.He plays both the Rebel with a cause and also Rebel WITHOUT a Cause effectively! The film gives a hint for it's sequel as well!

Overall I liked the film basically for Ranbir Kapoor, strong songs and powerful fights.However, owing to a lot of forced scenes which makes film toxic as well, and longg length, I can't say that I Loved it!